Just a Thought! - 9 July 2012

"Do not let your heart envy sinners, but live in the fear of the LORD always." (Proverbs 23:17).

 

The book of Proverbs is full of advice on the type of people we are to avoid associating or being friends with, and the possible consequences of such relationships. Though as Christians we must associate with non-believers in order to be a witness to them, we need to be cautious as to the depth of those relationships. Let us look a little more at the types of people we are to avoid.

 

6 Types of People to Avoid

Evil Doers (Proverbs 24:1-2) - No-one in their right mind would want to be close friends with a serial killer. To do so would not only look bad for one's reputation, but there are also serious consequences of such a relationship. It takes a very special kind of person with a unique gift, and the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives, to be able to minister to such a person. However, there are other evil doers that we constantly come into contact with that may seem somewhat innocent, but their given the right circumstances, their evil motives become apparent. In Proverbs we are warned to keep away from them and to fear God instead.

 

Gossips (Proverbs 20:19) - If you know of anyone who has the reputation of being a gossip, avoid them. Apart from the warning in Proverbs, another reason to avoid them is that it makes you a potential target of the gossip.

 

Angry People (Proverbs 22-24-25) - There are times in our lives when we become angry about a situation or event. This is normal and on occasion justified (e.g. Jesus clearing the temple in John 2). They difference here though is that there are people who seem to make a career out of anger and often sin in their anger, something we are warned about in Ephesians 4:26. Proverbs tells us to avoid them so as not to become like them.

 

Gluttons (Proverbs 23:20-21) - This may not seem like a big deal, but the Bible puts gluttons into the same category as drunkards. They are people that are not truly in control of their eating habits, but rather are giving in to the desires of the flesh, and if they fail in that area, what other area can they potentially fail in. The end result for them is ruin, shame and rags.

 

Thieves (Proverbs 29:24) - This may seem like an obvious one, but it is also a subtle one. In the business world for example we could easily aspire to be like a senior person in the company who is rather successful due to some shady dealings. At first we may not like what they do, but it is so easy to let our standards slip and act the same. Proverbs 29 reminds us that to associate with such people is the same as being a thief ourselves.

 

Immoral People (Proverbs 6:24-29) - We are also to avoid those who live immoral, promiscuous lives. This is a lifestyle that is so prevalent today. Proverbs clearly warns us to avoid such people as it is a lifestyle that is so easy to be enticed into.

 

Avoid Such People

Who are your friends? Which one of them is the biggest influence in your life? Do any of the fit into one of the six categories above? Are they the kind of people that you would like to become? More importantly, are they the type of people that God would want you to become?

The warnings of Proverbs may seem like generalisations, but they are there for a reason. God loves us and wants us to be people fit for His Kingdom. If our relationship with these kinds of people did not have influence over our lives in one way or another, God would not have included these warnings in the Bible in the first place.

 

Trust God's judgement and heed His advice, even if it goes against your feelings. Avoid these people wherever possible. If you cannot avoid them for whatever reason (e.g. a work colleague or family member) then ask God to give you the strength to resist the subtle influence these people may have over you.

   

Just a Thought!
© 2012